Cinematic Portrayals of Ancient Women: Cleopatra VII, Livia Augusta, Servilia Caepionis and the Three Waves of Feminism

This project examines the modern perception of ancient women, specifically
through the creative (and often anachronistic) lens of film. All three women examined,
Cleopatra VII, Livia Augusta, and Servilia Caepionis, all exemplify the modern influence
on interpreting historical sources, resulting in all three becoming agents of feminism in
their own times. Each woman did not culminate the probable influence they had in
Roman society, but they are instead reflective of the patriarchal paradigms understood by
20th and 21st century audiences. The burgeoning feminist ideologies of the 20th century
would influence the depictions of each character in an anachronistic fashion, distorting
the actual control such figures had in history. While Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra
capitalized on youth and sexuality as tools of powers, Siân Phillips’ Livia emphasized
age and experience to advance in patriarchal Rome. Servilia, however, was an older matron who had both the experience and the sexuality to control those around her.
Whileeach figure approached it in very distinct methods, their common goal of changing
Roman politics was reflective of the continued (and relatively unchanged) perception of
ancient Roman women: as intelligent, yet dangerous, figures that served to derail
patriarchal Roman politics.